Rail clamp



E. F. THORP RAIL CLAMP Dec. 2s, 192s. 1,612,755

Filed J uly 22"I 1925 Y BY Patented Dec. 2S, i923.

EARNEST F. THOR?, OF BGNO, ARKANSAS.

RAIL CLAMP.

Application filed July 22,

My invention relates to improvements in rail clamps tor use inconnection with the track rails et' railway tracks; and the objectthereof is to provide, in a. manner as hereinat'ter set forth, a trackrail clamp to prevent the rails et a railway track trom spreading andfor holding the rails of the track in gauge thereby reducing thepossibility ot accidents, due to spreading rails, to a minimum.

Further objects of t-he invention are toprovide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a rail clamp which is comparatively simple in itsconstruction and arrangement, strong, durable,acting not only as a meansto prevent the spreading et the rails but as a bracingl device therefor,thoroughly ei'icixent in its use, conveniently installed with respect tothe rails of a' railway track, and comparatively inexpensive tomanufacture.

lilith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consistsof the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts ashereinafter more specifically described and illustrated intheaccompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention,but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modificationscan be resorted to which tall within the scope oi the claims hereuntoappended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote correspondingparts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a railway track, showing theadaptation thereto of a rail clamp in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a iragn'ientary view in top plan of a railway track, showingthe adaptation thereto ot a rail clamp in accordance with thisinvention.

Figure 3 is a side view ot the combined holder, guide and abutmentelement.l

Iligurt-i 4 is a top plan view oi" a combined brace and clamping member.

Figure 5 is Aa side view ot a combined brace and clamping member.

Figure G is a top plan view et the upper brace member.

Referring to the drawings in detail 1 and 2 indicate the rails of atrack and which are mounted upon ties 3. The rails 1 and 2 are tiredlysecured to the ties by spikes 4.

A rail clamp in accordance with this invention is arranged between apairet' ties 3 and is disposed transversely with respect to the 1925. SerialNo. 45,4531.

track. rl'he rail clamp includes a pair of oppositely disposed combinedbrace and clamping members referred to generally by the referencecharacters 5, 6, a pair oi' upper brace members referred to generally bythe reference character 7, 8 a combined holder, guide and abutmentelement ormember referred to generally by the reference character 9, aturn buckle 10, a pair ot clamping nuts 11 associated with the member 5,a pair ot' clamping nuts 12 associated with the member 6, a connectingdevice 13 between the members 5 and 7 and a connecting device 14 betweenthe members 6 and 3.

The combined brace and clamping members are oppositely disposed withrespect to each other, and as they are of the same construction, but onewill be described, as the description of one will apply to the other.l/Vith reference to Figures 4 and 5, each combined brace and clampingmember, comprises a fiat bar 14 or" substantial length having a taperedrear portion 15 which merges into a peripherally threaded cylindricalshank 16 arranged at the inner end ot the combined brace and clampingmember. rEhe outer end et the bar 14 terminates in an overhangingclampingl head 17 which 'eX- tends inwardly with respect to the bar 14and is spaced therefrom as at 18 to provide a pocket. The top of thehead 17 is formed with a seat 19 and a shoulder 20. The track rail ismounted upon the outer end of the bar 14 and the outer side et' the base21 thereoi is extended into the pocket 18. The inner side ot the headabuts against the outer 'tace oit the web 22 of the track rail and theseat 19 of the head 17 is positioned against the outer side et' thelower Ytace ot the ball or head 23 of the track rail. The shoulder 2()abuts against the outer side edge ot' the head or ball 23 ot the trackrail. rilhe bar 14 is formed in proximity to the tapered port-ion 15 otthe combined brace and clamping meniber with a lengthwise extending slot24.

As the upper brace members 7 and 3 are ot like construction, but onewill be described, as the description ot one will apply to the other.The upper brace members are oppositely disposed with respect te eachother and each consists ot a bar 2V, having the major portion of itslength dat and square in cross section. The outer end terminal portionof the bar 29 is disposed at an upward inclination, as indicated at 26and which is adapted to abut against the inner tace et the web 22 of thetrack rail and seat upon the upper face of the inner side of the base 21of the track rail. The inner end of the bar 25, centrally thereof, isformed With a polygonal shaped lug 27 for a purpose to be presentlyreferred to. The bar 25 intermediate` its ends is formed With alengthwise extending slot 28, Which when the bar is in bracing`position, is arranged in alinement With the slot 24 of a combined braceand clamping member.

he combined holder, guide and abutment member or element is of U-shapedcontour and it includes a base 29, a pair of upstanding arms 30, 3l.Each of said arms is formed near its lower end with an opening 32 and onits outer face in proximity to its upper' end with a pocket 33. Each armat its upper end is formed with a right angularly disposed flangeSellVhen the rail clamp is mounted in coupling position, as well asbracing position, with respect to the track rails l and 2, the combinedbracing and clamping members 5, 6 are arranged to extend in oppositedirections and with the shanks 16 thereof extended tlnough the openings32 formed in the arms 30, 3l. The clamping heads i7 are positionedagainst and exteriorly with respect to the track rails l and 2. rTheelement 9 is arranged centrally of the track bed and after the shanks 16have been eX- tendcd therethrough into the turn-buckle, the latter' isadjusted so that the heads 17 of the members 5, 6 will be tightlyclamped against the track rails l and 2. After the members 5 and 6 havebeen set in the desired position, the pairs of clamping nuts ll, l2 areadjusted so that one of each pair will abut against the inner face of anarm of the member 9, see Figure l. Before the members 5 and 6 aretightly clamped in position, the upper brace members 7 and 8 arearranged in superposed relation with respect to the members 5, 6, thelugs 27 are mounted in the pockets BSand the inclined outer ends of themembers 7 and 8 are positioned against the Webs of the track rails. rlhemembers 5, 6, 7 and 8 are then tightly clamped against the track railsand the members 7 and S brought in tight abutting engagement with thearms of the member 9. After the parts are in the position as shown, theconnecting devices 13 and la, each of which consists of a headed boltand a nut, are extended through the alining slots 2a, 28 and the members5 and 6 are tightly connected to the braces 7 and 8. The slots 24-and'28 provide for adjustment when desired7 to enable theconnectingrdevice to be mounted in position.

It is thought that the many advantages of a rail clamp, in accordancewith this invention and for the purpose set forth, can be readilyunderstood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is asillustrated and described, vet it is to be understood that changes inthe details of construction can be had which Will fall Within the scopeof the. invention as claimed.

.VVha-t l claim is l. A rail clamp comprising a combined holder, guideand abutment member of U- shape'd contour, a pair of oppositely disposedcombined brace and clamping members adapted to be held in clampingengagement with respect to a pair of track rails and having` their innerends extending through the arms of said abutment member, a pair ofoppositely disposed upper braces for interposition between said abutmentmember and the pair of track rails. and means engaging with the innerends of said brace members, Within said abutment member, for maintainingsai-d brace members in clamping engagement with the track rails andfurther for maintaining` said braces in abutting position with respectto the track rails and said abutment member.

2. A rail clamp according to claim l having the inner ends of the upperbraces provided ifvith means for seating in the arms of said abutmentmember.

3. A rail clamp according` to claim l having a pair of connectingdevices, one of the connecting devices connecting an upper brace to acombined brace and clamping member and the other of said connectingdevices connecting the other upper brace to the other combined brace andclamping member, said braces and combined brace and clamping membersprovided with registering slots for the passage of said connectingdevices.

t. A rail clamp according to claim l having the inner ends of said upperbraces orovided With means for seating in the arms of said abutmentmember, and with the arms of said abutment member provided ivith meansfor overlapping the top of the upper braces at the inner ends thereof.

